G. E. M. Anscombe
Gertrude Elizabeth Margaret Anscombe, commonly known as G. E. M. Anscombe, was a prominent philosopher born on March 18, 1919, in Limerick, Ireland. She pursued an extensive academic career, studying at the University of Oxford where she developed a strong foundation in both ancient and modern philosophy. A significant event in her life was her conversion to Catholicism during her first year at Oxford, which influenced her moral and philosophical perspectives throughout her career. Anscombe was married to fellow philosopher Peter T. Geach, and together they raised seven children while advancing their academic endeavors.
Among her noteworthy contributions to philosophy, her book "Intention," published in 1957, stands out for its analytic rigor and exploration of moral issues. She also translated works of the influential philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, a mentor and friend, and became an executor of his literary estate. Anscombe was known for her activism, particularly her protests against the ethical implications of political decisions, such as her opposition to Truman's honorary degree due to his role in using the atomic bomb. In 1970, she succeeded Wittgenstein's chair at Cambridge University, later retiring in 1986, yet she remained active in her field until her passing on January 5, 2001, at the age of 81. Anscombe's legacy continues to influence contemporary philosophical discourse, particularly in ethics and the philosophy of action.
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G. E. M. Anscombe
- Born: March 18, 1919
- Birthplace: Limerick, Ireland
- Died: January 5, 2001
- Place of death: Cambridge, England
Biography
Gertrude Elizabeth Margaret Anscombe was born on March 18, 1919, the third child and only daughter of Alan and Elizabeth Anscombe. Born in Limerick, Ireland, while her father was posted there as a British army officer, she attended English schools and was awarded a scholarship to the University of Oxford in 1937. At Oxford, Anscombe elected to take a rigorous program of study which included Greek and Latin literature as well as ancient and modern philosophy.
In her first year at Oxford, Anscombe became a convert to Catholicism; shortly after, she met her future husband, Peter T. Geach, also a Catholic convert and student of philosophy. The couple postponed marriage until 1941, when Anscombe’s undergraduate studies were complete. In the following years, three sons and four daughters were born to Anscombe and Geach while both were pursuing academic careers. Anscombe was awarded successive research scholarships both at Oxford and at Cambridge University and was then elected to a fellowship at Someville College, Oxford, where she taught until 1970.
In the 1940’s, Anscombe met and became a good friend of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, who then held a chair in philosophy at Cambridge University. Although she did not consider herself a follower of Wittgenstein, he named her (along with two others) as an executor of his literary estate. Before his death in 1951, the philosopher had arranged for Anscombe to spend time in his native Vienna, Austria, to help prepare her for the tasks involved in editing and translating his demanding notes and manuscripts. Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations, published in 1953, was the first of Anscombe’s translations to appear.
Anscombe wrote many articles and seven books. Intention, published in 1957, is representative of her analytic rigor and of the often close relationship between her academic work and her perspectives on moral issues. She also published articles defending Catholic teachings and was a social activist of note, in one instance protesting Oxford University’s granting of an honorary degree to former U.S. President Harry Truman on the basis of his participation in the decision to employ the atomic bomb during World War II.
In 1970 Anscombe was appointed to the chair in Philosophy at Cambridge University once occupied by her friend and mentor, Wittgenstein. She retired from her academic post in 1986 but continued her professional activities. In 1988 she joined in the founding of the Program in Human Rights and Medicine at the University of Minnesota.
In the last decades of her life “Miss Anscombe” (as she preferred to be called in philosophical circles—though she published as “G.E.M. Anscombe”) suffered from a heart ailment, and in 1996 was seriously injured in an automobile accident from which she never entirely recovered. She did at the age of 81 on January 5, 2001.